ABC Heywire: Miranda finds voice for national youth forum

She had been in and out of state care and struggled with wanting to be free while feeling trapped.

When Miranda's family told her they were sending her from Creswick to boarding school she was upset and angry. Miranda thought it was a cruel punishment.

The 17-year-old now realises that move was not a punishment but a life-changer - a chance to do something good.

Miranda, a proud Gunditjmara and Kurnai woman, has been a student and boarder at Worawa Aboriginal College in Healesville for four years.

That whole first trip down in the car to the all-girls school, Miranda cried. She cried the whole first day because she missed her family.

While Miranda misses her family when away at school, she is finding her voice and is set on becoming the first in her family to finish VCE.

In sharing her story, Miranda has also earned a spot in the ABC's Heywire youth advocacy program. Heywire aims to help regional youth make a difference in their communities and for other young people across Australia.

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Teachers at Worawa encouraged Miranda to speak up.

"I've met a lot of good people at school. I love that it's a small school so you know everyone and it's good to connect," Miranda said.

"Really, before I came here I didn't know much about my culture...Sometimes in lessons like English, I might research culture as something to write about but every term we have culture days."

Miranda has four younger siblings and she hoped to set a good example for them.

This year Miranda is starting year 11 and while she has long-held aspirations to become a vet, Miranda said she was open to plenty of options for what she might do after finishing school.

Heywire will bring 35 young Australians together for the year in sharing their stories. Miranda said it was great meeting people with inspirational stories from different backgrounds and learn new skills.

Miranda looked forward to what she might learn from the experience.